This year marked the 5th annual Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) LGBT+ College Conference. What first started in 2014 has blossomed into, not only a statewide conference, but also a a time to recognize outstanding individuals who are helping to shape and strengthen our community.

The three day conference was kicked off with welcoming remarks from Jeffry Porter, Director of the Office of Research Services at MTSU followed by the Tennovation Keynote presented by Keven Lewis from the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at MTSU. What followed was three days of breakout sessions, plenary discussions, strategy sessions, and issues summits all centered around this year’s theme of All Identities Bridging the Divide. This year’s conference placed emphasis on the transition from the classroom to the workplace and discussion of how people of all identities can integrate various business climates.

Earlier this year Dr. William Langston, a psychology professor at MTSU and faculty advisor of MT Lambda, told Focus Middle Tennessee, “If universities are saying ‘We think we’re doing as much as we can,’ and employers are saying ‘We don’t think you’re doing anything,’ and students are saying ‘Neither one of you are getting it right’ … everybody get together so we can talk about it and realign.”

Peppered throughout the weekend were events meant to engage all conference goers. From the documentary keynote of Codebreaker: The Life and Legacy of Alan Turing to an open mic night to a conference film festival, there was something for everyone.

Rounding out the conference portion of the weekend was a keynote presented by Georgiann Davis, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Her presentation was titled Ask Me Who I Am: Intersex in Contemporary America, and focused on the terminology in the intersex community and the importance of respecting people’s terminological preferences.